Coin-controlled weighing-scale.



G. F: W. SCHULTZE. COIN CONTROLLED WEIGHING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1913.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Ill/IIIlI/I/I/Il/ WITNESSES:

4 TTOR/VEY S G. F. W. SCHULTZE.

com CONTROLLED WEIGHING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. I913.

. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIVVENTOI? 7 A A TTORIVEY S UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV F. W. SGHULTZE, OEOAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

"DIN-4.70NTROLLED WEIGHIN G-SGALE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented A rQe, 1915,-

Application filed November 26, 1813. Serial No. 803,284;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAv F. W. SCI-IULTZE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented. certain new and useful- Improvements in Coin-Controlled Weighing-Scales, of which the following is a specification. r

The-hereinafter described invention relates to means for regulating the return of a deposited coin or token to the depositer thereof within a coin actuated-device, or the retention thereof within the machine as a compensation for the value given therefor, the, construction and operation of the work- .ing parts being such that the user of the machine is given an opportunity to have returned the deposited coin or token, depending on the registering'of a guess as to which slot-in the interior of the casingthe coin-for throwing into operation the actuating mechanism will be directed; the object of the invention being to create an interest and attract attention to the coin controlled machine and by so doing causing a greater number of persons touse the machine than I otherwise would be the case.

The invention is adapted for use in connection with any form of a coin controlled. vending machine, but for the purpose ofillustration, the same is disclosed as applied to an ordinary coin actuated weighing machine, wherein a charge is usually made for giving the weight of the user thereof- Usually,- the user of such devices deposits a coin or token and in 'return is given his weight, the coin being retained within the machine as payment therefor, or in case of a coin controlled vending apparatus a given quantity of merchandise is discharged from the machine in consideration of the deposited coin or token. I

In the present case the user of themachi'ne is given a choice of guessing into which interior coin runway the actuating coin will be directed. Should the guess of the in terior coin runway be the one set to return the com, the deposited coin or tokenisdi rected to the exterior of the machine for the recoveryv thereof, and in such an 'event; the user is given that which is'controlledbythe I apparatus and in addition has returned the coin ortoken deposited for actuating the machine.

In the case of a weighing scale, the weight of the user is given and the deposited coin returned, and in the case of a vending. ma-

1 chine, the merchandise controlled thereby is discharged and the coin or token returned. In either event, the return of the coin or token to the user of the machine, or the retention thereof within the machine, is dependent solely on the registering of a guess by the user as to the interior, coin runway into which the actuating coin or token will be directed when deposited into the machine. If a guess be not registered as to which interior runway the coin will be directed on being deposited into the machine, the coin will be retained by the machine.

After each guess and operation of the scale, the guessing mechanism is restored to its normal position for directing all come or tokens into the-casing untilsuch time as another guess may be registered. I With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the ac coinpanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. v

To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein isdisclosed one form of my invention, and in which. the same is illustrated as applied to a weighing apparatus.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spring scale, with the upper portion in vertical section, disclosingthe scale mechanism and the mechanism for registering-a guess as to the disposal ofthe actuating coin. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the scale casing viewed fromthe rear, disclosing the weighmechanisin'foi" registering a guess as t'o the disposal of the actufating coin; Fig.8 isa sectional view taken on line'3+3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. is a rear view the mechanismfor Y:

suitable scale base on the forward portion of which is mounted the scale platform 2, and

from the rear of the base extends the vertical casing 3, in which is mounted the operating mechanism of the scale.

The we ght indicating mechanism of the scale is constructed in the following manner:EXtending vertically within the casing 3 is a scale rod 4, connected at its lower end to the platform mechanism and carrying at its upper end a transverse bar 5, connected at each end to suitable coiled springs 6, suspended at their opposite ends from a suitable bar 7, supported by the interior side walls of thecasing 3. Slidably mounted in a suitable guide 8 formed on'a plate 9, attached to the interior of the front wall of the casing 3 in rear of a dial opening 10, adapted to be inclosed by a glass 11, is a bar 12, the lower end of which rests on the transverse bar 5 and the upper end of which is provided on one face with teeth 13, which intermesh with a pinion 14 loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 15, one end of which tends through a dial plate 16 positioned in rear of the dial opening 10, and secured to the outer end of said shaft 15 between the glass 11 and the dial plate 16, is an indicat ing hand 17, adapted to rotate about the faceof the plate 16 and indicate the weight of the user of. the scale. The pinion 14 is provided on one surface withan arm 18 adapted to contact with a corresponding pin 18projecting from one surface of a disk19, secured to the shaft 15, and mounted on the shaft adjacent the disk 19 is a grooved pulley 19 to which is fastened one end of. a flexible cord20, the opposite end of which supports a suitable weight 21.

Secured at its lower end to the transverse bar 5 is a suitable rod 22 which is of suflicient length that the upper end thereof is adapted to engage a plate 23, pivoted at one end to a bracket 24 and provided at its opposite end with a suitable. pointed tongue 25 which isnormally unseated from suitable teeth formed in the peripheral edge of the disk 19, the end of the rod 22 when in engagement with the plate 23 lifts the tongue 25 thereof. from the teeth-in the edge of the disk 19. but should a person step on the scale platform, the rod 22 will be pulled downwardly with the bar 4 and the tongue at 28, and said cup is secured to the end of a. suitable arm 29 pivoted, as at 30, adjacent the plate 23, and said rod is formed with a finger 31 adapted to extend under the plate 23. A weighted arm 32 extending over the plate 23 is also provided on the rod 29 and said arms are of sufficient weight to maintain the cup 27 carried at the opposite end of the rod in position to receive a coin from the slot 26.

Positioned to receiw e the coin from the cup 27 is an open mouthed flared tube 33 divided within its length into a plurality of oblong coin receiving slots 34 and 35 which are arranged at their lower ends in substantially longitudinal alinement with each other, and each slot is open at its lower end, as at 36, and at their outer lower side edges, as at 37. Pivotally mounted in the tube 33 above the division wall therein, is a shaft 38, carrying a plate 39 which directs the deposited coin-or token into either the slot 34 or the slot 35. One portion of said shaft is formed with a laterally extended weighted arm 40.and the end of said shaft is curved as at 41 and engages the peripheral edge of the disk 42, provided with serrations 42' of different depths, and said disk is mounted on a shaft 43 journaled in plates 44 carried by the frame 9, and said disk carries a pivoted spring pressed pawl 45 which engages the ratchets 46 of a disk 47 carried by a'drum 48 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 43. A flexible cord 49 surrounds the drum 48 and is connected at its opposite ends to the. points 50 and 51 of an arm 52 formed on the bracket 53 which is secured to the scale rod 4.

It will be apparent that each time a per per end: to wind thereon, and the rotation of the drum, will, through the pawl 45 and ratchets 46, cause the disk 42 to rotate, and.

the curved end of the shaft 41 dropping into the serrations 42' will cause the directing plate 39 to oscillate. When the disk comes to a stop and the curved end 41 of the shaft 4 The mechanism for registering a guess as to which slot the coin will be directed into and controlling the return of the coin to the user, or the retention thereof within the machine, is constructed and operatesin the following manner :Loosely mounted on a rotatable shaft 54 and positioned below the discharge ends of the slots 34 and 35, is a plate 55, provided with a flanged edge 56 formed with an opening 57 therein, which is of a width corresponding to the width of one of the slots, and said flange when positioned below the slots 34 and 35 closes the open ends of the same and directs the coin out of the side edges thereof, but, when the opening 57 in the flange is positioned under one or the other of said slots, it permits the coin to pass from the lower end of said slot through a channel 58 leading to the exterior of the easing into a cup 59. An indicating hand 57 provided with a handle 57 is secured to the end of said shaft extending exteriorlyof the casing and said hand operates over dial numbers 1 and 2, and when said hand is in the normal full line posi-- teeth 62 and 63, and said teeth, when the.

plate is operated in the direction of the arrow, are engaged by the end of a pawl 64 pivoted as at 65 and carrying at its rear end a spring 66 which forces the outer end of said pawl into engagement with said seg-' ment. A spring 67 normally retains the plate in position, as .in Fig. 4, with the side edge thereof resting on the pin 68. A ,controlling means in the form of a segmental frame 69 is keved to rotate with the shaft 54 and is positioned immediately in rear of the plate 55 and said frame when the shaft is rotated by the operator in the direction of the arrow-Fig.' .4, engages the pin 60 and operates the plate 55 to present the opening 57 below the slot 34 or 35 A cog wheel 70 of a clock work mechanism is secured to the shaft 54 and the same is engaged by a spring pressed pawl 71 car-- ried by a cog 72- which is loosely mounted on the shaft and is connected thereto by a spring 73, and-said cog intermeshes with a cog 74 carried by a shaft 75 on which is mounted an escapement ratchet 76 controlled bv the pivoted escapement pawl 77- from which depends the pendulum 78. The

pendulum is prevented from swinging when aperson is on the scale platform, and the rod 4 is depressed, by a finger 79 carried by a rotatable shaft 80 extending transversely of the casing, and said finger is normally forced upwardly until the stop 81 carried by the shaft, engages a pin 82, by a weighted arm 83, which is raised on the upward movement of the bar 4 by a bracket 84 carried thereby.

The operation of the scale mechanism and the mechanism for directing the coin into one orthe other of the coin slots being clear, the operation of the guess registering mechanism is all that need be explained.

The operator stepping on the scale platform grasps the handle 57*, and guesses which slot will return the coin by moving the hand 57' to the numeral 1 or. 2. 'The moving of the indicator hand rotates the shaft 54' carrying the frame 69, which in turn, through the pin 60, rotates the plate 55 agaihst the tension of the spring 67, and if the hand is set on the numeral 2, the opening 57 in the flange 56 is positioned beneath the opening 36of the runway 34, thus permitting the coin, should the same be directed through the runway 34, to pass through the channel 58 into the cup 59 at the exterior of the casing, the flange 56 being positioned below the opening 36 of the runway 35 to direct the coin, should the same pass through the channel 35, through the'opening 37 at the side thereof into the interior of the casing. Should the hand be set on the numeral 1, the opening 57 will be below the runway35 and a portion of the flange will closethe lower end of the runway 34. The end of the pawl 64 dropping into the respective ratchets 62 and 63 retains the plate in a position to present the opening 57 thereof either below the runway 35 or'runwav 34. The rotation of the shaft 54 will wind the spring 73 of the clockwork mechanism, but the escapement pendulum 78 thereof, will be prevented from operating bv the finger 7,9, as the same is in a substantially horizontal position when the scale platform is occupied, and the standard 4 is depressed. The operator after having deposited a coinin the receiving opening and having received his weight, the coin having been returned or retained within the casing dependent on the guess registered, steps off of the scale platform, the standard 4 is pulled upwardly by the springs 6 causing the finger 79 to be moved out of contact with the pendulum 78., which permits the same to swing, which in turn allows the .1

whichever ratchet 62 or 63 in which the same may be seated, and the raising of the pawl will permit the spring 67 to return the plate 55 to its normal position, as in Fig. 4, with the indicating hand 57 in the full line position, as in Fig. 7.

It will be apparent that the dial mechanism will not operate until a coin is deposited into the coin receiving opening, that the directing plate 39 will be operated on the downward movement of the standard 4, and that the flange 56 is normally in a position to direct the coin from either of the runways into the interior of the casing when the operator fails to register a guess as to the path of travel of the coin.

It will also be apparent that the plate 55 after having been set, will return to its normal position on the operator leaving the scale platform. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patcut is 1. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing provided with a coin receiving opening and a coin discharge opening, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, a plurality of coin runways within the casing and communicating with said coin receiving and discharge openings, means for directing the deposited coin into one of said runways, and means whereby a guess may be registered as to the runway into which the coin will be directed, whereby the coin deposited within the machine is returned to the user thereof, provided the registered guess as to the runway into which the coin will be directed corresponds to the runway into which it is directed.

2. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, coin runways within the casing, means for directing the actuating coin relative to said runways, means whereby a guess may be registered as to the disposal of the coin by the directing means whereby the actuating coin is returned to the user theredf provided the registered guess as to the runway within which the coin is to be directed corresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means.

3. In a weighing machine of the class de scribed, the combination with a casing, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated withinthe casing, coin runways within the casing, means for directing the actuating coin relative to said runways, means whereby a guess may be registered as to the disposal of the coin by the directing means whereby the actuating coin is returned to the user provided the registered guess corresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means, and means for locking the guess registering means in its adjusted position until the weight indicating mechanism is relieved of the users weight.

4. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, coin runways within the casing, means for directing the actuating coin relative to said runways, means whereby a guess may be registered as to the disposal of the coin by the directing means whereby the coin is returned to the user provided the registered guess corresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means, means for locking the guess registering means in its adjusted position on the machine being occupied by the user, and means for automatically restoring the guess registering means to its normal position on the machine being relieved of the users weight".

5. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, means associated with saidindicating mechanism for receiv ing the weight of the user, coin runways within the casing, means operated by the actuation of the weight receiving means for directing the coin relative to said runways, and means whereby a guess may be registered as to the disposal of the coin by the directing means, whereby the coin is returnedto the user, provided the registered guess as to the runway within which the coin is to be directedcorresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means.

6. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, means associated with said indicating mechanism for receiving the weight of the user, coin runways within the casing, means operated by the actuation of the weight receiving means for directing the coin relative to said runways, means whereby a guess may be registered as to the disposalof the coin by the directing means, whereby the coin is returned to the user, provided the registered guess corresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means, and means for locking said guess registering means in its adjusted position while said weight receiving means is occupied.

7. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing provided with a coin inlet and a coin outlet opening, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, coin runways within the casing and in cooperative relation with said coin inlet and outlet openings, means for directing the coin relative to said runways, and guess registering means operated by the user for guessing the scribed, the combination with a casing provided with a coin inlet and a coin outlet opening, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, means associated with said weight indicating mechanism for receiving the weight of the user, coin runways within the casing and in coiiperative relation with said coin inlet and outlet openings, means operated by the actuation of said weight receiving means for directing a coin relative to said runways, means operated by the user for opening the discharge end of a certain one of said runways relative to-said coin outlet opening and closing the discharge'end of a certain,

other one of said runways relative to said coin outlet opening, means for locking the controlling means for the discharge ends of said runways in its adjusted position, controlling means for said locking means f locked from movement on the weight receiving means being occupied and unlocked on the weight receiving means being relieved of the weight of the user, and means for returning the controlling means for the discharge ends of said runwa s to its normal position on the unlocking 0 said controlling means.

9. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing provided with a coin inlet and a coin outlet opening, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated within the casing, coin runways within the casing and in coiiperative relation with said coin inlet and outlet openings, means operated on the actuation of the machine for directing the operating coin relative to said runways, and means normally positioned to direct the coin from said runways'into the interiorvof the casing and operated by the user for'opening the discharge end of a certain one of said runways relative to said coin outlet opening and for closing the discharge end of the other of said runways relative to said discharge opening. a

10. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing vprovided with a coin inlet and a coin outet opening, coin operated weight indicating mechanism situated withln the casing, coin runways within the caslng and in cooperative relation with said coin inlet and outlet openings, means operated on the actuation of the machine for directing the operating coin relative to said runways, means normally positioned to direct the coin from said runways into the interior of the casing and operated by the user for opening the discharge end of a certain one of said runways relative to said coin outlet opening and for closing the discharge end of the other of said runways relative to said discharge opening, means for locking said last mentioned means in its adjusted position on the machine being occupied, and means for unlocking the locking means and for permitting the means for controlling the discharge ends of said runways to return to its normal position on the machine being relieved of the users weight.

11. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, coin operated weight indicating mechanism Within the casing, coi-n runways within the casing, means for directing the actuating coin relative to said runways, means where by a guess may be registered as to the d15- posal of the coin by the directing means whereby the actuating coin is returned to the user provided the registered guess as to the runway within which the coin is to be directed corresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means, said guess registering means normally positioned to direct the coin from said runways to the lnterior of the casing.

12. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, a

within the casing, means for directing the actuating coin relative to said runways, means normallypositioned to direct the actuating coin'from said runways into the interior of the casing, said means being capable of operation by the user to register a guess as to the disposal of the com by the directing means whereby the actuat1ng coin is returned to the user provided the registered guess as to the runway into which the coin is to be directed corresponds to the disposal of the coin by the directing means.

13. In a weighing machine of the class described, the combination with a casing, provided with a coin inlet anda coin outlet opening, coin operated weight lndlcatingmechanism situated within the casing, coin runways within the casing and in cooperative relation with said coin inlet and outlet openings, means for directing the operating coin relative to said runways, means normally positioned to direct the coinfrom said runways into the interior of the casing and operated by the user for open ng the dischar e end of a certain one of said runways re ative to said coin outlet 0 ening and for closing the discharge end of t e otherof said runways relative to said discharge openname to this specification in the presence of ing, aind mean? for returning said last mentwo subscribing witnesses. tione means rom its adjusted position to its normal position on the Weight indicating GUSTAV SCHULTZE' 5 means being relieved of the weight of the Witnesses: I user. HARRY A. TOTTEN,

In testimony whereof I have signed my D. B. RICHARDS. 

